Coroner’s Inquest To Review 2020 Custody Death Case

A coroner’s inquest has begun to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Everett Riley Edward Patrick, a 42-year-old man from Lake Babine Nation, who died in April 2020 after being taken into police custody in Prince George, British Columbia.

Patrick was arrested in the early hours of April 12, 2020, after police responded to a commercial alarm at a sporting goods store in downtown Prince George. According to official reports, officers believed a break-and-enter was in progress. After several hours at the scene, police used tear gas and deployed a police dog to control the situation. During the arrest, Patrick was pulled to the ground, and an officer involved did not prevent his fall or confirm whether his head struck the ground.

Following the arrest, Patrick was taken to a hospital where he was medically assessed and cleared. However, after being transported to the police detachment, his condition appeared to worsen. Reports indicate that he fell multiple times and was eventually carried to a holding cell. Shortly afterward, he was found in medical distress and taken back to hospital.

Patrick remained hospitalized for several days before he died on April 20, 2020. A post-mortem examination later determined that the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage resulting from blunt force injuries.

The incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of British Columbia, which handles cases involving police-related deaths or serious harm. In its 2022 findings, the IIO stated that there were reasonable grounds to believe an offence may have been committed in connection with Patrick’s death.

Despite this, the B.C. Prosecution Service announced in 2023 that no charges would be laid against the officer involved. Prosecutors stated that the available evidence was not sufficient to meet the legal threshold for charges. A key issue in their decision was whether the officer failed to recognize a significant change in Patrick’s medical condition after his arrest.

The coroner’s inquest, which started in Burnaby, is not intended to assign criminal blame. Instead, its purpose is to establish the facts of what happened, review the actions taken, and make recommendations that could help prevent similar incidents in the future. Inquests are mandatory in cases where a person dies while in police custody.

The proceedings are expected to provide a clearer understanding of the events leading to Patrick’s death and may lead to recommendations aimed at improving safety and accountability in custodial situations.